A DINING table fit for a king - literally - is soon to go under the hammer at a Welsh auction room.

A DINING table fit for a king - literally - is soon to go under the hammer at a Welsh auction room.

The impressive piece is a massive 25ft long - and was used by King Edward VII and his family on numerous visits to Wales during the 19th Century.

It was formerly owned by Lord Glantawe, a leading Swansea industrialist and politician in the Victorian era.

But it was recently brought back into the public eye by an anonymous person from the Swansea area who decided it was time to sell their Victorian dining suite.

Now the table will be auctioned for a five-figure sum - along with matching dumbwaiter, sideboard, and 12 hide-upholstered chairs.

It is expected to attract bidding interest from as far afield as Japan and America.

But auctioneer Andrew Williams, of Welsh Country Auctions in Cross Hands, hopes the historic suite will stay in Wales.

"This was used to entertain Edward, when he was Prince of Wales, on his first visit to the Principality," said Mr Williams.

"It would be ideal if it could stay locally, or even just stay in Wales - but it could end up anywhere. We have lots of phone bidders who would be interested in buying for the American market."

The table dates from around 1880, just before Prince Edward visited for the first time to open the Prince of Wales Docks in Swansea.

Designed in a gothic revivalist style, it features fine carvings and is fashioned from solid oak.

Local history suggests the table was commissioned for the three-day celebrations surrounding that visit, but the craftsman is unknown.

"Whoever built the table was certainly skilled," said Mr Williams. "A table of this scale today, even in chipboard or MDF, would cost you ridiculous money.

"It has several sections which winch down using a crank-type lever, and at its full extension it is 25ft long."

Sadly however, several original wooden inserts are missing, meaning the table is smaller than it used to be.

Mr Williams said, "With very little effort it could be fixed and then it would be really massive. You would need a little train set to take the salt and pepper pots around, unless you had servants like in the old days. With all the silverware on it, it must have been an incredible sight."

The suite will be auctioned as one lot on Saturday, October 4, but its value is unknown.

"It is unique, it is huge, it is historic - it should fetch at least &#xA3;10,000," said Mr Williams.